Pivoted jaw type, toggle actuated wrench



July 24, 1951 B. s. BARNETT 2,561,682

PIVOTED JAW TYPE, TOGGLE ACTUATED WRENCH Filed June 4, 1949 Benjamin G. Barnett INVENTOR.

A TT ORNE Y Patented July 24,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Benjamin G. Barnett, Dallas, Tex. Application June 4, 1949, Serial No. 97,129

2 Claims.

This invention relates to utility tools especially designed for household use and it has particular reference to a multi-purpose tool in which the chief characteristic isthat of a wrench. i The principal objectof the invention is to provide a tool consisting of an elongated and hollow handle having'formed thereon an arcuated head or curved and serrated major jaw with which cooperates a curved and serrated minor jawfthe latter being disposed for slidable and pivotal displacement with respect to the major jaw through the medium of a pair of links restricting the pivotalpoint of the minor jaw to longitudinal move merit within the handle and a lever pivoted at one end intermediate the ends of the minor jaw and adapted to pivotally and slidably actuate the lat ter by virtue of a pivotal connection to said links. Adjustment of the minor jaw in relation to the major jaw is accomplished through the medium of a detent manipulable through the lever into and out of engagement with selected recesses in longitudinally spaced relationship in the rear face of the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool as set forth which besides serving as a wrench for removing screw covers from jars and the like, is equipped with a screw driver bit and can opener pivotally mounted in the free end of the handle; a cork screw pivoted in the end of the minor jaw operating lever; a hammer head removably carried by the end of the major jaw; a nail puller and wrecking claw formed on the end of the major jaw and wire cutting means formed jointly on the major and minor jaws.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a utility tool constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the major jaw and showing the hammer attachment in detached relationship therewith.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the hammer attachment taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the handle taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of the minor jaw actuating lever, taken on line 6--6 of Figure 1, and

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line l-l of Figure 1.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral l0 denotes the handle of the tool, which latter is die-formed preferably from sheet metal. The handle is substantially oval in transverse section, the inner face being open the major part of its length to define a slot l I for the purpose to be presently described. In the rear face of the handle and op posite the slot II is formed a series of recessions defining teeth l2.

The upper end of the handle In is curved into a major jaw l3 whose arcuated work engaging face 14 is serrated, as shown. The end of the jaw is forked at IE to serve as a wrecking claw and nail puller and is shaped to define a socket it to receive the shank ll of a hammer head la. The hammer head I8 is slotted at l9 (Fig. 4) in order to receive the tip of a minor jaw member 20 when the latter is closed into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure l.

The minor jaw 20 is also arcuated and its work engaging portion 2la is likewise serrated. The inner end of the minor jaw enters the slot H in the handle l0 and has pivoted thereto at a on each side a link 2|. The links 2| are constrained to slide longitudinally within the handle 10 and between their lower ends is pivoted at b, an end of a link 22. The link 22 extends outwardly through the slot H in the handle and is pivoted at its opposite end at c to a lever 23.

The lever 23 is bifurcated at its upper end to receive the lower edge of the minor jaw 20, to which it is pivoted at d.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the links 21 may be freely moved longitudinally in the handle by reciprocating the lever 23 to thus adjust the minor jaw with respect to the major jaw and to accommodate the jaws to screw lids of jars or other work of different sizes. When the desired adjustment is obtained, the position of the minor jaw is secured by a protuberance 24, formed on the inner end of the short link 22 which joins the lever 23 with the parallel links 2|. The protuberance 24 is engaged selectively with the recesses 12, thus providing a fulcrum for the link 22 as the lever 23 is manipulated toward and away from the handle to swing the minor jaw in relationship to the major jaw on the pivot a. The clearance between the links 2| and the walls of the handle II] is such that the protuberance 24 may be displaced in relation to the teeth [2.

The major jaw has a half-round recess 25 formed on its inner surface adjacent the work engaging portion l4 thereof. This recess cooperates with a like recess 26 opposite the same in the work engaging face 21a of the minor jaw 20 to serve as a wire cutter when the minor jaw 18 is adapted to remove crown caps from bott1es.-

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such 2 termediate the ends of said minor modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claimsisalso considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench type tool comprising a hollow han- 2. A wrench type tool comprising a hollow, 10m gitudinally slotted handle having a longitudinal row of internal teeth opposite and parallel with the slot in said handle, parallel links movable longitudinally in said handle and capable of limited lateral displacement between said slot and said row of teeth, a head formed on said handle defining a major work engaging jaw, a minor work engaging iaw having one end disposed in the slot or said handle: and pivoted to the upper ends of said parallel links, a lever pivoted at one end injaw and movable towards. and. away from said handle, a link pivoted to said lever intermediate its ends and whose opposite end extends into said handle through the slot therein below said minor jaw and pivoted to, the. lower ends of said parallel links, and means carried by said link engageable selecdle having a longitudinal slot therein and an ar.-.

cuated head defining a major jaw having a serrated work engaging portion, a minor jaw hay-- a, serrated work engaging surface curved opposite to. that of; said major jaw, parallel links slidable longitudinally in, said handle and to which said, minor jaw is pivoted at one end for oscillating displacement in relation to said, major javw, a plurality of aligned teeth interiorly of said handle. opposite the slot therein, a lever pivoted at one end to said minor jaw intermediate its ends, means pivotally connecting said lever intermediate its. ends to the, ends. of said links opposite the pivot of said minor jaw whereby oscillation of said lever will impartmotion to said minor jaw and means adjacent the pivotal point between said lever and links and engageable selectively with the teeth in said handle to. hold said minor jaw in adjusted positions in relation to said major jaw.

tively with the teeth in said handle for holding said minor jaw in adjusted positions with respect to said major jaw. BENJAMIN G.. BARNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The; following, references are of record in the file,- of this patent:

STATES PATENTS- 

